Do you know good Vodka? Whether it's Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Ketel One or Chopin, this guide will help you determine the good vodkas from the ones with the good promo and marketing and give you a leg up on your fellow drinkers. Keep in mind, it's your dollar and that your individual tastes and preferences should be the final factor in determining what you like and what you drink.

Originally, vodkas were eastern bloc wonders derived from either potato or grain then James Bond came along and brought it into the mainstream. Popular with businessmen for a quick drink during lunch hour for its odorless, colorless simplicity vodka quickly caught the nations livers in its iron grip. Nowadays, vodkas are made from almost anything - grape skins and rice and from everywhere like Japan and the good old Estados Unidos. It's easy to mix with either tonic or soda or you can put it in its Sunday best with some olives and vermouth. The possibilities are endless.

But what about the vodka itself? How can you tell whats good from whats a glossy ad in a men's magazine? Never fear, you're buddies here at Metrowize have your back.

Lets start with a little known vodka named Grey Goose, which is the bell of the ball at every high end bar. It's billed as super premium and the best tasting in the world, and is priced accordingly. The thing is though, it's like the Darrel Strawberry of vodkas in that its they're both hyped up more then they ever were worth. What you find when you're drinking Grey Goose is a mediocre distilled grain vodka with a "unique" taste.

Compare and contrast next time to one of our favorites, the lowly Smirnoff, a gold medalist in this years San Francisco World Spirits competition. This is one of the cleanest, purest vodka's on the market and by stroke of luck it's also the cheapest.

With that nugget of wisdom we now segue into the test. The way to impress your friends that you're not just a cheapskate - but a savvy consumer who knows how to spot a good vodka. Next time your in the bar take a little bit of vodka and rub into your hands, take something like the local SKYY for example - when you rubbing it between your palms it gets very slick, sort of like soap. That's because they're using glycerin, it leaves a thin coat on your tongue to cover impurities in the vodka.

For more on Guide to Good Vodka, check out part 2.

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